Possibly, but it depends, I had the judge specifically say that some of what Harman did wasn't illegal, and she was only actually charged over trying to use her office to influence police investigations. Of course how the public view it is a different matter.
Dying A Dream - the UK / Iran War 2006 (My first TL)
- Thread starter Lemon flavoured
- Start date
- Status
Possibly, but it depends, I had the judge specifically say that some of what Harman did wasn't illegal, and she was only actually charged over trying to use her office to influence police investigations. Of course how the public view it is a different matter.
Indeed, it is definitely something that would have unintended consequences. I might actually make a reference to that in the "glimpses of the future" update...
Finally here is the penultimate epilogue. It's fairly short, and as ever I don't claim that my messing about with the 2008 election calculator on USElectionAtlas has produced realistic results, but oh well:
Epilogue 3 – Forgotten Hope: The 2008 United States Presidential Election
Sing us a song of the century / Of panic and promise and prosperity
After, and likely even before, Dennis Kucinich had announced that he was withdrawing from the Democratic party to run as an independent for president, the nomination was always Hilary Clinton's to lose and after rising-star senator Barack Obama ruled himself out citing lack of foreign policy experience – presumably linked to the then ongoing conflict in Iran – Clinton had a very easy ride to the nomination. The only serious challenge came from John Edwards, but it was clear early in the primaries that he had little chance. In the end Clinton was easily chosen as the nominee, with Edwards as her running mate.
On the Republican side, the main challenger to the favourite John McCain was Mitt Romney with the more Libertarian Ron Paul third. After disappointing showing early on Romney withdrew after a handful of primaries, but declined to endorse any specific candidate. Despite not receiving the endorsement of Romney[1], McCain was always the frontrunner. Although Ron Paul stayed in until the very end he was unable to receive enough delegates to force a second round of voting at the convention. After much speculation, including rumours that he intended to pick Alaska governor Sarah Palin (“to counter the female factor of Clinton”) McCain settled on Mike Huckerbee as his running mate.
After Kucinich had chosen Independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders as his running mate, and began campaigning heavily on an anti-war platform, it was clear that given the perceived hawkishness of both Clinton and McCain that they would get a significant amount of votes. No-one except maybe their own supporters considered that they had any chance of actually winning the presidency (it's doubtful even they themselves thought so), although the campaign never actually suggested that they were simply a protest vote. This was explained later by Kucinich who, when asked if he ever thought he could have won replied: “Not really, I don't think, but you can't tell people that. You have to campaign to win, even if you know you can't”.
There were worries on the Democratic side that Kucinich would draw enough votes to throw the election to McCain in key states such as Florida. From the other side however it seems that the McCain campaign took for granted that some swing state would be swung their way by Kucinich voters.
In the end the election was not even particularly close, with Clinton and Edwards winning easily, by 335 Electoral votes to the 200 of McCain and Huckerbee. The biggest surprise was Kucinich and Sanders pulling out a surprise victory in Vermont and taking the state's 3 electoral votes. They also broke 5% in New York and 6% in California, although nationally their total was around 3%.[2]
----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
[1]Of course he did endorse McCain in OTL.
[2]How realistic these results are is probably debatable, but as I've said all along I'm not going for 100% realism here.
Epilogue 3 – Forgotten Hope: The 2008 United States Presidential Election
Sing us a song of the century / Of panic and promise and prosperity
After, and likely even before, Dennis Kucinich had announced that he was withdrawing from the Democratic party to run as an independent for president, the nomination was always Hilary Clinton's to lose and after rising-star senator Barack Obama ruled himself out citing lack of foreign policy experience – presumably linked to the then ongoing conflict in Iran – Clinton had a very easy ride to the nomination. The only serious challenge came from John Edwards, but it was clear early in the primaries that he had little chance. In the end Clinton was easily chosen as the nominee, with Edwards as her running mate.
On the Republican side, the main challenger to the favourite John McCain was Mitt Romney with the more Libertarian Ron Paul third. After disappointing showing early on Romney withdrew after a handful of primaries, but declined to endorse any specific candidate. Despite not receiving the endorsement of Romney[1], McCain was always the frontrunner. Although Ron Paul stayed in until the very end he was unable to receive enough delegates to force a second round of voting at the convention. After much speculation, including rumours that he intended to pick Alaska governor Sarah Palin (“to counter the female factor of Clinton”) McCain settled on Mike Huckerbee as his running mate.
After Kucinich had chosen Independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders as his running mate, and began campaigning heavily on an anti-war platform, it was clear that given the perceived hawkishness of both Clinton and McCain that they would get a significant amount of votes. No-one except maybe their own supporters considered that they had any chance of actually winning the presidency (it's doubtful even they themselves thought so), although the campaign never actually suggested that they were simply a protest vote. This was explained later by Kucinich who, when asked if he ever thought he could have won replied: “Not really, I don't think, but you can't tell people that. You have to campaign to win, even if you know you can't”.
There were worries on the Democratic side that Kucinich would draw enough votes to throw the election to McCain in key states such as Florida. From the other side however it seems that the McCain campaign took for granted that some swing state would be swung their way by Kucinich voters.
In the end the election was not even particularly close, with Clinton and Edwards winning easily, by 335 Electoral votes to the 200 of McCain and Huckerbee. The biggest surprise was Kucinich and Sanders pulling out a surprise victory in Vermont and taking the state's 3 electoral votes. They also broke 5% in New York and 6% in California, although nationally their total was around 3%.[2]
----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
[1]Of course he did endorse McCain in OTL.
[2]How realistic these results are is probably debatable, but as I've said all along I'm not going for 100% realism here.
Demon-Something
Banned
Don't worry, Kucinich's results are perfectly plausible considering the serious anti-war footing the US had adopted by this point.
Also, 3 percent of the votes going to an independent is very plausible, Ross Perot took 12 percent in 1992.
Also, 3 percent of the votes going to an independent is very plausible, Ross Perot took 12 percent in 1992.
Makes sense. I was originally going to give them a bit more than 3%, but figured that between them they are far too left wing even for a lot of anti-war people (outside of Vermont, anyway, which I had them winning with 35%).
- Status